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The most effective way to prevent drownings was to get involved in communities.

"Working with local ambassadors, recruiting local community members as pool lifeguards, life savers, as swimming instructors," Mr Scarr said.

A group of Sudanese refugees in Victoria, who had only been in Australia for a few years, had been recruited and were making their mark on water safety in the country.

"Now they're working as pool lifeguards, earning a good income, being local leaders, talking to their local community, encouraging water safety more broadly," he said.

Approximately 100 of the drownings this year occurred in Australia's inland waterways (river, lakes, streams and damns), while about 100 were in the ocean.

Nearly 25 percent occurred in swimming pools and a small number, mostly infants, occurred in bathtubs.

There were an additional 685 people last year that were hospitalised after near-drownings, with many now in need of long-term medical assistance.

"Australians love the water. It’s an important part of our culture," Mr Scarr said.

"But the sad fact that 291 people drowned last year is a sobering reminder to always actively supervise children around water, for people young and old to learn to swim and survive, to increase lifejacket use, reduce alcohol consumption around water.

"Kids and families love pools, but they can pose a significant drowning risk to toddlers."

Aussies aged between 25 and 34 years old accounted for the higher number of drownings.

There were 20 overseas tourists who drowned in Australia last year, as well as six international students.

"Reducing drowning in these high risk populations requires an integrated approach, working with universities, local tour operators, national parks and lifeguard services," the report said.

On Sunday, a Victorian father-of-three drowned after he tried help save a family in trouble in treacherous surf at Wollongong.

Shaun Oliver, 32, raced into the water after noticing four children struggling to stay above water.

They made it back safety, but he did not survive.

Shaun Oliver died while trying to save a child at Wollongong City beach. (9NEWS) ()